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What to Do in Berkeley: Weekend Events Calendar Aug. 26-28

BAM/PFA's 'Open Restaurant' to celebrate Chez Panisse's 40th is completely full, but there's much, much more on offer this weekend, much of it low-cost or free.

When: Thursday, Aug. 25, 7 p.m.

Where: , 2626 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, FREE

Why go: A film this big, this bad, this B, deserves a big surface to be screened on, and the exterior facade of the University Art Museum fits the bill. If you're a Cal student, you'll even get free pizza and a poster.

When: Thurs.-Sat. through Oct. 1, 8 p.m.

Where: , 1834 Euclid Ave., Berkeley; $17/$15

Why go: Cameron McNary's funny and poignant play, making its West Coast premiere, follows a group of 30-something Dungeons & Dragons players, and what happens when one of them enlists to go to Iraq.

When: Friday, August 26, 7 p.m.

Where: , 3090 Claremont Ave, Berkeley, FREE

Why go: The mother of women's comics reintroduces us to the woman artist she considers iconic -- Tarpe Mills, 1940s artist and writer of "Miss Fury," the first female comic superhero.

When: Gala opening Friday, Aug. 26, 5 p.m.

Where: Jimmie Gallery, 744 Folger Ave., Berkeley, FREE

Why go: The five artists of Jimmie have filled their gallery space with art entirely made of beer containers or inspired by beer. 

When: Through Aug. 31, Mon-Fri, 7 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat-Sun, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Where: , 2131 Durant Ave., Berkeley,  FREE

Why go: Blocked cellphone service? Puh-leeze. John Jekabson and his camera were there when then-Gov. Ronald Reagan set gun-toting, tear gas-throwing National Guard troops on fellow Californians who happened to disagree with him on what to do with People's Park. Photos are for sale.

When: Friday, August 26, 6:30 p.m.

Where: , 3124 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, FREE

Why go: The lovable anarchists behind  screen Katsuhito Ishii's loopy Japanese sci-fi epic of three nebbishy brothers who free-associate a world in which they may finally become popular with girls.

When: Friday, August 26, 7:30 p.m.

Where: , 2904 College Ave, Berkeley, FREE

Why go: Law professor 's reading from her biography of the state's first female attorney, who argued cases before women even won the right to vote, will get you in the frame of mind for this fall's

When: Saturday, Aug. 27, 8 a.m.

Where: 2344 Sixth St., Berkeley, FREE

Why go: This multi-donor sale benefits 's several clinics serving low-income, disabled and elderly patients. Free cotton candy and popcorn while you shop. Bring those secret but unwanted papers: Document shredding for $10 will also benefit the cause.

When: Saturday, August 27, all day

Where: , 2530 San Pablo Ave.; , 2020 Addison St.; 2129 Shattuck Ave. (at Center Street); FREE

Why go: The biggest day of the 10-day MusicFest begins at 10 a.m., when performers ranging from Blakey's Beat to the Berkeley Symphony Brass Quintet serenade you while you shop. From noon to 4 p.m., the action moves to F&S's , while Laura Weinbach and her folk/classical Foxtails Brigade perform at 2129 Shattuck at 6 p.m. It's all free.

When: Sunday, August 28, 10 a.m.-noon

Where: , 200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley, $20

Why go: This kid-friendly walk covers newts, birds, butterflies, frogs, lizards, foxes, snakes and more as families hone their skills of observation and learn how plants and animals live together. Fee includes a light breakfast and a copy of the Illustrated Guide to the Common Animals of the East Bay Hills. Registration required.

When: Sunday, August 28, 11 a.m.

Where: 2107 Dwight Way, Berkeley, FREE

Why go: Drs. Earl and Janet Creps of 'Church In A Bag' upscale to a real building in this, their first Sunday at Dwight and Shattuck. With this big step comes the make-or-break pastoral decision of deciding on an official church coffee. Congregants will vote on several varieties of Berkeley brew this weekend as 360church forges onward.

When: Sunday, August 28, noon

Where: Humanist Hall, 390 27th St, Oakland, FREE

Why go: It's a bake sale and clothing swap/rummage sale for unashamed Fat-Americans and those who love them. Gooey treats help keep that all-important BMI topped up.

When: Sunday, August 28, 11:30 a.m.

Where: A private home in Berkeley, details on registration; $10-$40 sliding scale

Why go: Former Berkeley City College instructor Clifford Schwartz devised a novel and surprisingly effective way to teach and enjoy Shakespeare: DIY readings with an orderly system of sharing speaking parts, and without lots of critical exegesis or fuss over which edition is best.

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Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
protests in Washington DC
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protests in Washington DC
actors from Clerks 1 and 2
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actors from Clerks 1 and 2
nick mastick April 28, 2013 at 09:34 pm
Of all the concerns in our society, I put this just about dead last.
Steven Murphy April 17, 2013 at 02:25 am
Hmm. So I think you're telling me I need to add the countdown timers to the long list of BerkeleyRead More idiosyncrasies I need to ignore? I guess can do that. Thanks. --Murph
Alexander Sinclair Merenkov April 15, 2013 at 04:34 pm
This is very interesting. I bicycle and walk a lot around Berkeley. I think i know exactly whatRead More signal is being referred to the walk sign across Bancroft at MLK specifically will reset itself. many of the walk signals rely on induction loops which are loops placed in the ground that can detect Bicycles and Cars when the Bicycles or cars pass over them disrupting the current. You can often see these loops as they look like hexagonal saw cuts in the ground. Anyways the intersection detects traffic with these devices & if it doesn't detect anything then it assumes nothing is there and gives right of way to the major throughway in this case being MLK. So the reason the counter to cross Bancroft resets itself is totally logical because the intersection suspects no one is there and since that side of Bancroft is more or less residential there would be no point in setting that intersection to a timer where it gives priority to one light then the other & switches based on that & not on wether it detects any bicycles or cars passing over the induction loops. Also this is Berkeley and we are rather quirky and always have been so nobody exactly fallows the rules or knows about them its funny how simple crossing the street really is but its anything but simple in reality. Many people choose to jay walk if its safe to do so, this is typical on Shattuck at alston especially and makes sense for efficiency but isn't very safe or lawful. If the hand is flashing/Counting down dont cross!
Janet Scrivener April 6, 2013 at 11:15 pm
Actually, I just saw and spoke to him about an hour ago - the wire sculpture man. He'd moved downRead More Solano a few blocks, opposite Safeway. I asked him if the police had moved him off Colusa. He said he didn't want to talk about it. He wasn't in a very good mood. I told him that people had asked about him on a web local news site. He said, "People want to know how I'm doing? I need a car. I need somewhere to put my stuff in. To get off the streets. I don't want to sit around starving in public." I thought to myself, "Who do I think I am? A Girl Scout leader? Pollyana?" I realized my upbeat, cheery tone was really not what was needed just then. I said I couldn't help him with a car. "People want to know how I'm doing?" he said again. "Tell them that." I said, "I will." I turned to walk away, knowing only too well that the real needs that exist, yes, right here in our lovely, excellent neighborhood, are great and once you start giving you'll find it's difficult to get out of. He did say, "Thank you," as I left. He doesn't look like he's starving. But he's right about being out in public more than he would like to be. As a reasonable human being, I have to ask myself, what sort of person finds himself in that position? Ex con? Mental illness? Mind-blown Vet? Drugs? Alcohol? Incapacitated by an accident? An unforgivable act? Some combination of the above? Jesus did say, "The poor you shall have always with you." What would you do?
P. Park April 4, 2013 at 03:29 am
I agree Shattuck, especially right in front of the fire station is the scariest street around.
Mary April 3, 2013 at 06:45 pm
I am not disabled, but I am terrified of crossing streets nowadays because there are too manyRead More careless and aggressive drivers who act is if red lights, speed limits, and crosswalks either don't exist or don't apply to them. Shattuck in particular has become a nightmare to cross. Sometimes I have counted over 30 cars going by before one stops for the crosswalk. What we need is far more law enforcement - the tickets written would more than pay for the cost of hiring extra officers.